"Midnight in the grotto...." Iolanthe Preview Night

[Jerome Price]

Jerome stepped back across the close to take in the full transformation of the theatre. Nodding approval of Erika's assurances that the set designers were a talented and created team, more than able to work to the budget he'd set. The most spectacular element was the entrance. Veneers had been used to convert pillars to tree trunks, tree branches crafted onto the under-side of the overhanging porch, hundreds of leaves hid any sign of the building itself and hanging vines created a curtained effect that the evening's audience would have to navigate to gain entry into the main theatre.

The whole building seemed to have been taken over and become a forest grotto. But one that was perfectly organised and uniform or symetrical, mirroring the ordered lives of the faeries in the production. Contrastingly, the designers had allowed the theatre itself to 'emerge' in a few small areas with garishly overly imperialistic elements protruding through and disrupting the natural beauty and tranquility of the forest with the trappings of government and male dominance. That same motif continued into the main theatre, where increasingly the natural pomp and circumstance of the theatre itself was allowed to shine through until the main theatre itself sustained only a smattering of greenery hung here and there. Where at first the red carpets had been covered with shimmering fabrics to transform them into a river, they eventually gave way to the red and gold of the main room.

Richard Barker had been a tremendous help in guiding the Theatre's own team, his appearance a week prior to help finish up preparations had been a godsend and resulted in a number of delightful evenings of conversation. Jerome very much enjoyed the company of mortals, their short lives clearly giving birth to a level of creativity and desire to outshine their limited existence. Strange, another mirror to the world of the kindred where the desire to extend existence led to the subversion of their creativity and a dull existence of envy and frustration in being unable to truly shine, surrounded by other frustrated relics who did not wish to celebrate but instead stifle and claw at what beauty did survive. But such philosophising was unwise, the sentiment itself a weapon to be used against him by those who could rip the very thoughts from his mind and hone them into weapons. It would not be hard to make them sound like treason against the Camarilla, and Jerome's own past left him open to easy persecution. His hand played with the paper of the letter in his pocket, the fear from it's penning washing over him and deepening his thoughts and trepidation of the days to come.

Movement from the vines as one of the staff emerged brought Jerome out of his sombre contemplation and a smile back to his face. This was the final touch, the gentleman was dressed as a member of the houses of parliament his garb contrasting the forest facade and the individual's own lack of breeding. All of the male staff were dressed in these simple costumes and the women as a fairies, helping to maintain the illusion inside. The man cast into the darkness for Jerome and noticing him below the lamps on the far side of the road gestured to indicate the dress rehearsal was beginning. At last, a first chance to experience the play as the cast and crew familiarised themselves with the new venue before tomorrow's preview. A special midnight preview event for the Prince, her ward and any others they wished to invite followed by a little party. Crossing carefully, Jerome entered into the grotto and the magical chaos of the company's final preparations.